Saturday, June 13th, members of the Active Divers Association took to the seas of Key Largo to participate in planting corals with the Coral Restoration Foundation. All in all, it was an unusual event in that the seas were five feet or more, and the visibility less than ten feet. Nevertheless, it was a very productive time. There were 13 ADA divers in attendance for the all-day event.

The day started with a lecture on corals including their physical structure, how they grow, and why they die, and why they are important to the ocean eco-system. After the lecture, the divers were taught how to prepare the coral “seedlings” for growth and how to plant them on the reef. Using mock-ups of the underwater world, each aspect of the coral planting process was demonstrated and practiced in a controlled environment.

Following a delicious lunch at Pilot House, divers reconvened at Florida Keys Dive Center for the 1:00 p.m. dive to the “nursery”. As previously mentioned, conditions were not ideal, but the ADA divers still managed to “birth” over 120 new baby corals (see photo). In about nine months, these corals will grow six to twelve inches and be ready for transplantation to a reef-ready area.

It was a good, albeit rugged, and productive day. All agreed that there is something special about participating in this worthwhile activity. To read more about the Coral Restoration Foundation, go to http://www.coralrestoration.org/.

Active Divers Season Kickoff and Barbecue a Hugh Success

Over 30 veteran and new Active Divers met on March 21st at John U Lloyd State Park Jetty Pavilion to enjoy tasty barbecue and beach diving for its annual Season Kickoff. Our own gourmet chef extraordinaire, Roy Wasson, prepared burgers, chicken, and his own secret chili recipe for the hungry crowd.

We also held our first annual Dive Gear Swap 'n' Shop. Divers brought their gently used dive gear including wet suits, accessories, and scuba-related paraphernalia and engaged in a lively sell and swap fest among their buddies. It was a great garage sale just for divers!

After everyone had their fill of eating and shopping, our guest speaker Amanda R. Costaregni of the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative presented her research findings. Amanda showed how local residents and guests use the reefs in the southeast Florida region using a web-based interactive map. Hosted by the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI), this research brings together the community of local residents, reef users, business owners, visitors and the broader public in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties. Based on the research, the SEFCRI develops management recommendations that can become part of a comprehensive management strategy to ensure healthy coral reefs in the future. (Mouse-over the photo at right to see Amanda lecturing the picnicers.)

Many thanks to all the volunteers who selflessly donated their time and talents to making the 2014 dive season a success. Our club exists for the sole purpose of serving its members. The hundreds of hours put in by our volunteers each year is the lifeblood that keeps our club vital. Pictured at left are some of our volunteers posing with their certificates of appreciation.

ARE TANKS INCLUDED?

A common and legitimate question we hear from our members. The answer is yes and no. Some dive shops/boat captains include tanks, others do not. Their reasons vary, but some find private tanks, for example steel 120s, do not fit in in the boat's custom-designed tank racks, others consider tanks a part of their professional service. When in doubt, just refer to our dive schedule page and those operators including tanks as part of their service will display "TANKS INCLUDED". If it is not noted, tanks are not included.

Moved or Changed Email Addresses Lately?

If so, please email or call us with your current information. you may send an email to Dr Dan Baeza, Membership Chair at dmbaeza@bellsouth.net. You can also call Dan at 954-260-8225 and leave a message with your new contact information.

If you haven't renewed yet for the 2014 season, you may still do so. You may pay by check or online. Go to http://activedivers.org/Membership-Renewal.html to renew your membership online. To pay by check, mail a check made out to "Active Divers Association" with the appropriate amount to: